Sen. Richard Blumenthal has launched an investigation into a local company for allegedly taking thousands of dollars from a Bridgeport customer without doing any work.

Allan Harvey, 65, the owner of Harvey's Kitchen, says he's terrified of losing the $8,000 he paid to a local business owner in good faith.

Harvey gave Blumenthal a personal tour on Sunday of his new restaurant "Harvey's Kitchen."

He bought a building on Palisade Avenue to relocate because he no longer wants to rent like he was previously doing at his old spot on Granfield Avenue for the past 14 years.

Harvey has chairs for the business, a brand-new floor and even a kitchen sink. What he doesn't have is a commercial hood vent for his stove, which is required by law.

He said that he paid a local contractor the $8,000 to install the vent, and even though the contractor cashed the check back in March, he's never done any of the work.

"I am upset right now, upset in the sense that I want him to even call me, answer my call," Harvey said.

"What we need here is basic fairness and justice," Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal said he's investigating because hard-working, small business owners like Harvey should not be suffering a double hardship dealing with both the pandemic and a potentially predatory business practice.

"The contractor who was paid to do this service may be having troubles because of the pandemic, but at least he should offer an explanation, and then he should do the service," Blumenthal says.

"Yes, I'm very frustrated, I'm angry in the sense that I want to open this restaurant. I'm paying all these bills," Harvey stressed.

Harvey said he has no doubt the contractor is aware of the situation.

"I think he knows what he's supposed to do," he added.

Harvey hopes by telling his story, and by bringing his case to authorities, that his $8,000 won't go down the drain.

"I want him to do the right thing," Harvey said.

The contractor, who is based in West Haven, did not respond to News 12 Connecticut's request for comment.